Call for Expressions of Interest: Join the Black Sea Regional Portfolio on Sustainable Blue Economy
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) invites research and innovation projects working in the Black Sea region to express their interest in joining its upcoming Black Sea Regional Portfolio, entitled “Addressing Knowledge Gaps in the Black Sea: Information, Data Exchange, and Good Practices in the Context of Climate Change.”
The call for expressions of interest is now open, offering projects the opportunity to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and contribute to addressing key challenges facing the Black Sea region. Interested projects are invited to submit their expressions of interest by
28 October 2026
through a short online questionnaire.
Submit your expression of interest
About the SBEP Regional Portfolios
Launching in early 2027, the SBEP Regional Portfolios will run for two years, bringing together ongoing research and innovation projects addressing common needs, knowledge gaps, and challenges across Europe's major sea basins: the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, and North Sea, as well as the Atlantic Ocean.
The initiative aims to strengthen synergies and connections between projects funded through different programmes, including the SBEP and other national, regional, and European funding schemes. By fostering collaboration among projects active in the same sea basin, the Regional Portfolios will support knowledge exchange, networking, and the development of opportunities for future cooperation.
Focus Areas of the Black Sea Regional Portfolio
The Black Sea Regional Portfolio will address three broad thematic areas:
- Climate-resilient and ecosystem-based coastal planning
- Multi-use coastal and maritime infrastructure systems
- Smart governance and decision support for sustainable coastal development
Projects interested in joining the portfolio are encouraged to consult the Call for Expressions of Interest for a detailed description of the topics and subtopics, and to assess their relevance to their ongoing research and innovation activities.
Why Join the Black Sea Regional Portfolio?
Participation in an SBEP Regional Portfolio offers projects an opportunity to expand their networks, increase their visibility, and strengthen their potential for future collaboration and market uptake.
Participating projects will benefit from opportunities to:
- Build connections with relevant research and innovation projects working in the Black Sea region.
- Identify opportunities for future cooperation and joint activities.
- Increase project visibility and promote the uptake of research results.
- Engage with regional stakeholders and experts.
- Participate in networking activities and events organised by the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership.
The portfolio's activities will be guided by a shared roadmap, developed according to the needs and opportunities identified by participating projects. In addition to regular meetings, networking opportunities and joint activities will support knowledge exchange and collaboration throughout the initiative.
Find Out More
Further information about the Regional Portfolios, including the current calls for expressions of interest, is available on the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership website.
Projects interested in learning more about the initiative can also watch the recording of the Regional Portfolios Informative Webinar, which introduced the initiative and addressed questions from potential applicants.
For a practical overview of how portfolio collaboration works, visit the SBEP Thematic Portfolios 2026–2028, a related initiative currently underway.
Don't miss the opportunity to connect your project with the wider Black Sea research and innovation community. Submit your expression of interest by 28 October 2026 and become part of the SBEP Black Sea Regional Portfolio.